Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller

ABSTRACT

A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line. The station module includes at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve. At least one encoder module is configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and is connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path. A processor executes the stored watering program and controls the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/133,314 filed Jun. 4, 2008, which was a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/764,080 filed Jun. 15, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,398,139 granted Jul. 8, 2008), which was a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/435,036, filed May 16, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,248,945 granted Jul. 24, 2007), which was a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/883,283, filed Jun. 30, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,069,115 granted Jun. 27, 2006).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic controllers that controlvalves which supply water to sprinklers that irrigate turf andlandscaping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many parts of the world due to inadequate rainfall it is necessary atcertain times during the year to artificially water turf andlandscaping. An ideal irrigation system for turf and landscaping shouldutilize a minimum number of valves, supply lines and sprinklers.Preferably the valves should be turned ON and OFF by an inexpensive, yetreliable electronic irrigation controller that is easy to program andcan carry out a wide variety of watering schedules. The goal is touniformly distribute the optimum amount of water over a given area. Thetype, placement and flow rates for each of the sprinklers arepre-selected when an irrigation system is designed and/or installed. Theoptimum flow rate provided by each sprinkler should preferably fallwithin plus or minus one-quarter gallon-per minute (GPM). The amount ofwater supplied by each sprinkler is largely determined by the size andconfiguration of its nozzle orifice(s), although variations result fromfluctuations in water pressure that cannot be fully negated withregulators.

Residential and commercial irrigation systems typically include one ormore solenoid operated valves that are turned ON and OFF by anelectronic irrigation controller. The valves admit water to varioussubterranean branch lines usually made of PVC pipe that typically haveseveral sprinklers connected to risers coupled to the branch lines atspaced intervals. Each combination of a solenoid valve and itsassociated sprinklers is referred to in the irrigation industry as astation or zone. A modern electronic irrigation controller typicallyincludes a microprocessor that executes one or more watering programs.The watering programs can be pre-programmed by the user via push buttonand/or rotary controls. The controller usually has an LCD or otherdisplay to facilitate programming by the user. Often the controller willrevert to a default watering program in the case of a power failure. Themicroprocessor controls the solenoid valves via suitable drivers andswitching devices. The valves are opened and closed by themicroprocessor in accordance with the pre-programmed run and cycle timesfor each of the stations.

Over the past decade, modular expandable irrigation controllers havegained increasing popularity. In these controllers, the base portion ofthe system contains the microprocessor and user actuated controls. Eachstation is then controlled by a corresponding station module whichcomprises a plastic housing that encloses and supports a station modulecircuit, as well as wire connection terminals for connecting wires to aplurality of solenoid actuated valves. Typically each station modulecircuit includes a plurality of triacs or other switching devices andcan independently control a plurality of solenoid actuated valves, i.e.,stations. The station modules contain pins, sockets, card edgeconnectors or some other standard form of electro-mechanical connectorsfor allowing them to be inserted into slots or receptacles in either thehousing that contains the microprocessor or a separate back panel hingedto the microprocessor housing. When the station modules are plugged intoa modular expandable irrigation controller they are mechanicallysupported and an electrical connection is made between themicroprocessor and the driver. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,630B1 of Peter Woytowitz, assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., the assigneeof the present application.

The advantage of an irrigation controller with a modular expandableconfiguration is that the controller need only be equipped with theminimum number of station modules that can control the total number ofstations needed. Thus, for example, an irrigation system may have onlythree zones, requiring only a single station module, while another mayhave twelve stations which might require four station modules.Considerable cost savings are thus achieved. Moreover, if an irrigationsystem expands after initial installation because the landscaping hasincreased, additional station modules can be plugged into thecontroller. The station modules can also be removed and replaced ifdamaged, for example, during a lightening strike. In some modularexpandable irrigation systems the base unit is capable of controlling aminimal number of stations without requiring the addition of any stationmodules. In others, such as the ICC™ irrigation controller manufacturedand sold by Hunter Industries, Inc., at least a power module and oneirrigation station module must be plugged into the controller in orderto operate any stations or zones.

A modular expandable irrigation controller requires a dedicated fieldvalve line to extend from the controller to the solenoid valve of eachstation. A common line returns from each of the solenoids to completethe circuit. Thus each station is controlled by the microprocessorthrough a separate circuit. When a residential irrigation system isinstalled, typically the controller is mounted in the garage and all thewires are laid underground to one or more subterranean valve boxes thatcontain the solenoid operated valves. The installers frequently do nothave the foresight to install extra wires to support additional stationsat some future date. This can lead to major cost and expense if thehomeowner has a modular expandable irrigation controller that allows forthe addition of more stations, but the hard wires to reach them are notalready in place.

Another type of irrigation controller exists that does not require adedicated field valve line to each station. So-called “decoder” systemsare available in either two wire or three wire versions. In a two-wiredecoder system one or two way communication between the microprocessorand the valves is achieved by encoding signals and transmitting themover the same two wires that carry the power to the valve solenoids. Thevalves are connected in parallel to the two wires through decodercircuits that are used to identify commands uniquely intended for thatstation. In a three-wire decoder system two of the wires are used forpower and the third is used for communications. See, for example, U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,653,595 of Greengard, Jr. et al.; 4,209,131 of Barash et al.assigned to Motorola; 4,176,395 of Evelyn-Veere et al. assigned toClemar Manufacturing; and 5,048,755 of Dodds et al.

In irrigation control systems of the decoder type signal modulation (AMor FM) is typically used to encode the commands and data sent betweenthe microprocessor and the stations. Decoder systems can easily beexpanded to provide additional stations simply by attaching additionaldecoder circuits and valves to the two-wire or three-wire path at thelocations of each new station. It is not necessary to run dedicatedfield valve lines all the way back to the main controller for each newstation. Thousands of feet of wiring can be accommodated by decoderirrigation systems so very large properties such as golf courses,housing subdivisions, apartments and condominiums can easily beautomatically irrigated. Despite all their apparent versatility andattractiveness, decoder irrigation systems are much more complex, lesswell understood by users, and harder to troubleshoot than conventionalmodular expandable irrigation control systems that utilize a dedicatedfield valve line for each station.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,658 of Sarver discloses a method of retrofitting anexisting irrigation control system including a centralized controller, aplurality of independent valve control lines extending between thecontroller and the valves, and a return line extending from each of thevalves to the controller. A terminal strip is installed within thecontroller and connects each of the valve control lines together. Asignal encoder circuit board is permanently installed within thecontroller and a decoder is installed in series with each valveassembly. When the retrofitting is complete the irrigation controlsystem of the Sarver patent essentially comprises a two wire decodersystem. The first “wire” is the combination of each of the valve controllines now all in parallel to each other and all connected to one anothervia the terminal strip. The “second wire” is the common return linereturning from each valve assembly. The permanent conversion of aconventional irrigation controller to a decoder system is not apractical solution for landscape contractors because it requires toomuch expertise and effort to make the physical modifications that arerequired. In addition, few conventional irrigation controllers have thespace and other physical configuration requirements that would allowthem to accept the installation and connection of the terminal strip andsignal encoder circuit board. Moreover, such a retrofitting processwould be impractical given the wide variety of programming and outputformats of various conventional controllers already installed in thefield. The resulting decoder controller disclosed in Sarver does notafford the benefits of a simpler conventional irrigation control systemwherein each station essentially comprises a separate circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to providean irrigation controller that takes advantage of the best attributes ofa modular expandable irrigation controller and a decoder irrigationsystem.

In accordance with the present invention a hybrid irrigation controllerhas a plurality of manually actuable controls for entry or selection ofa watering program and a memory for storing the watering program. Thecontroller further has a plurality of receptacles for removablyreceiving a plurality of modules. At least one station module isconfigured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and isconnectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through adedicated field valve line and common return line. The station moduleincludes at least one switching device for selectively providing a firstpower signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve.At least one encoder module is configured for insertion into a secondone of the receptacles and is connectable to a multi-wire path forsending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wirepath for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuatedvalves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along themulti-wire path. A processor executes the stored watering program andcontrols the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance withthe stored watering program.

The present invention also provides a hybrid irrigation control systemthat includes a first plurality of valves and a second plurality ofvalves. The system further includes a plurality of manually actuablecontrols for entry or selection of a watering program, a memory forstoring the watering program, and a plurality of receptacles forremovably receiving a plurality of modules. At least one station moduleis removably inserted into a first one of the receptacles and isconnected to the first plurality of valves through correspondingdedicated field valve lines and a common return line and includes aplurality of switching devices for supplying a first power signal thatselectively energizes the first plurality of valves. At least oneencoder module is removably inserted into a second one of thereceptacles and is connected to a multi-wire path for sending encodedsignals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path forselectively energizing the second plurality of valves via decodercircuits connected along the multi-wire path. A processor is providedfor executing the stored watering program and controlling the stationmodule and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored wateringprogram.

The present invention also provides a method of controlling a pluralityof valves in an irrigation system including the steps of: 1) entering orselecting a watering program; 2) selectively energizing a firstplurality of valves using dedicated field valve lines and a commonreturn line in accordance with the watering program; and 3) selectivelyenergizing a second plurality of valves connected to a multi-wire pathutilizing encoded signals in accordance with the watering program.

The present invention further provides a method of remotely programminga decoder circuit adapted for use in an irrigation system. This is doneby: 1) providing a hand-held programmer with a transmitter connected toa first antenna; 2) placing the hand-held programmer in close proximityto a decoder circuit configured to be connected to at least one valveand having a receiver connected to a second antenna; 3) enteringidentity commands via the hand-held programmer and sending them via thetransmitter and the first antenna to the second antenna; and 4)receiving the identity commands via the receiver in the decoder circuitand establishing a unique identity for the decoder circuit so that itwill respond to commands from an irrigation controller connected to thedecoder circuit.

The present invention further provides a method of remotely exchangingdiagnostic information with a decoder circuit adapted for use in anirrigation system. This is done by: 1) providing a hand-held programmerwith a first transceiver connected to a first antenna; 2) placing thehand-held programmer in close proximity to a decoder circuit configuredto be connected to at least one valve and having a second transceiverconnected to a second antenna; 3) using the hand-held programmer totransmit at least one query to the decoder circuit via the firsttransceiver; 4) receiving the query via the second transceiver in thedecoder circuit and transmitting diagnostic information from the decodercircuit via the second transceiver; and 5) receiving the diagnosticinformation with the first transceiver in the hand-held programmer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the irrigation controller of thepresent invention with its front door open to reveal its removable facepack.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the removable face pack.

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged plan view of the components of theirrigation controller of FIGS. 1 and 2 that are mounted in its backpanel, which are accessible after the face pack has been removed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an irrigation system that includes theirrigation controller of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary circuit for the encoder moduleillustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary circuit for the decodercircuit illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless communication withthe decoder circuit of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,630 B1 granted Apr. 13,2004 to Peter J. Woytowitz entitled EXPANDABLE IRRIGATION CONTROLLERWITH OPTIONAL HIGH-DENSITY STATION MODULE and pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/848,394 filed May 17, 2004 also in the name ofPeter J. Woytowitz entitled ISOLATED MODULAR EXPANDABLE IRRIGATIONCONTROLLER are hereby incorporated by reference. The aforementionedpatent and application are both assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., theassignee of the subject application.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an irrigation controller 10 in accordancewith my invention comprises a wall-mounted structure including agenerally box-shaped front door 12 hinged along its right vertical edgeto a generally box-shaped back panel 14 (FIG. 3). A generallyrectangular face pack 16 (FIG. 2) is removably mounted over the backpanel 14 and is normally concealed by the front door 12 when not beingaccessed for programming. The face pack 16 has a plurality of manuallyactuable controls including a rotary dial switch 18 and push buttonswitches 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24 and 25 as well as slide switch 26, whichcan be manipulated in conjunction with numbers, words or graphic symbolsindicated on a liquid crystal display 28 for entering or selecting awatering program as is well known in the art of electronic irrigationcontrollers. Custom watering programs can be created by the user bymanipulating the rotary dial switch 18 and selected ones of the pushbutton switches 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24 and 25. Alternatively, existingpre-programmed watering programs can be selected, such as watering allzones every other day for five minutes per zone.

The face pack 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2) supports a main circuit board assemblywith a processor for executing and implementing a stored wateringprogram. An electrical connection is made between the face pack 16 andthe components in the back panel 14 through a ribbon cable 29 (FIG. 4).The circuitry inside the face pack 16 can be powered by a battery toallow a person to remove the face pack 16, unplug the ribbon cable 29,and walk around the lawn, garden area or golf course while entering awatering program or altering a pre-existing watering program. The storedwatering program can be a complex set of run time and cycle programs, ora portion thereof, such as a simple five minute cycle routine for asingle station.

Referring to FIG. 3, female electrical connectors (not illustrated) inthe ends of three box-like modules 30, 32 and 34 receive correspondingmale card edge connectors (not illustrated) with mating electricalcontacts. The modules 30, 32 and 34 are received in side-by-side fashionin a bay formed in the back panel 14 (FIG. 3) which is separate from theface pack 16 that encloses the processor. A larger, fourth box-likemaster module 40 plugs into the bay onto its own wider card edgeconnector and interfaces with a pump and sensor (not illustrated).

A locking slide bar 44 (FIG. 3) with a V-shaped gripping member 46extends above the bay and may be slid up and down in FIG. 3 between anunlocked position and a locked position. Projections (not illustrated)on the underside of the slide bar 44 engage and disengage withprojections (not illustrated) on the top surfaces of the modules toachieve the locked and unlocked states. A pointed tab 55 extending fromthe gripping member 46 alternately points to UNLOCKED and LOCKED indiciamolded into the adjacent back panel structure to indicate the moduleconnection status to the user. The positive module locking mechanismguards against partial or incomplete insertion of a module that couldlead to open connections or shorts that would make a station or zoneinoperable. The user is given visual and tactile feedback indicatingthat a positive lock has been established in the sense that each modulehas been fully inserted. The plurality of modules 30, 32, 34 and 40 aresimultaneously locked and unlocked with respect to their respectivereceptacles, which in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, are formedby side by side sections or regions of the bay formed in the back panel14.

As used herein, the term “receptacle” refers to any structure and/orslot, region, area or section of any part of an irrigation controllerframe or housing intended to receive and mechanically support, eitherinternally or externally, a module and allow electrical contact and/orwireless connection between circuitry within the module and circuitry inthe remainder of the controller. In the irrigation controller 10, eachof the receptacles is defined by short sidewalls (not illustrated) thatdivide a rear support wall (not illustrated) of the rectangular bay inthe back panel 14 and includes the associated male card edge connectors.

The back panel 14 (FIG. 3) is an outwardly opening plastic box thatprovides a support and a protective enclosure for removably receivingthe modules 30, 32, 34 and 40. The back panel 14 is typically installedon a vertical wall of a building structure so that the modules, such as30 are plugged in and removed in a horizontal direction, lateralrelative to the user. In other words, the back panel 14 is oriented sothat the modules are in a vertical column with the module 34 on top andthe module 40 on the bottom. This prevents the weight of the modulesfrom tending to unplug the same as might occur if the back panel 14 weremounted by rotating it ninety degrees clockwise from the orientationillustrated in FIG. 3.

The stripped ends of the wires that lead to the stations are secured toconventional screw terminals 115 (FIG. 3) of the modules 30, 32, 34 and40. The screw terminals 115 are separated by upstanding plastic dividerwalls 41 to prevent contact between adjacent wires. The valves may be ofthe type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,608 granted Dec. 7, 1999 ofRichard E. Hunter et al. entitled DIAPHRAGM VALVE WITH FILTER SCREEN ANDMOVABLE WIPER ELEMENT, Inc.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,437 granted Jun. 27,2000 to Matthew G. Beutler et al. entitled DIAPHRAGM VALVE WITH FLOWCONTROL STEM AIR BLEED; or U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,482 granted Nov. 9, 1999of Loren W. Scott entitled REMOVABLE CAPTIVE PLUNGER WITH CONTAMINATIONPROTECTION, all assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The term “solenoid actuated valve” as used herein shall also encompassvalves used in irrigation systems in which a pilot valve is not directlyopened and closed by a solenoid. These include hydraulically orpneumatically actuated valves which have a solenoid or its electricalequivalent somewhere in the fluid system, and not necessarily next tothe gating valve, for controlling the fluid pressure to open and closethe valves.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an irrigation system that includes thecontroller 10. A processor 102 mounted in the face pack 16 executes aselected watering program stored in a program memory (PM) 104 using adata memory (DM) 106. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,611 granted Aug. 22, 1995of Peter J. Woytowitz et al. entitled LAWN AND GARDEN IRRIGATIONCONTROLLER, also assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The programmemory 104 may be provided as a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory,or other suitable permanent or semi-permanent micro-electronic memory.The data memory 106 is preferably a random access memory (RAM). Theprocessor 102 may comprise a microprocessor that uses separate memory,or a micro-computer with on-chip memory that serves the same functionsas the program memory 104 and data memory 106. The manually actuablecontrols and the display of the controller 10 are not illustrated inFIG. 4 for the sake of simplicity. They are interfaced with theprocessor 102 in the usual fashion. The processor 102 is coupled throughsuitable input/output (I/O) devices (not illustrated), an electro-opticisolator (not illustrated) and a bus 107 that is routed through theribbon cable 29 to the male card edge connectors in each of thereceptacles in the back panel 14.

The processor 102 (FIG. 4) controls the removable modules 30, 32, 34and/or 40. Serial or multiplexed communication is enabled over the bus107 so that all of the information as to which stations or zones shouldbe turned ON and OFF at any given time is present at each receptacle. Atwenty-four volt AC power signal from a transformer 108 plugged into awall outlet is supplied to each of the modules over a pair of lines 110connected to the male card edge connectors of each of the receptacles.The twenty-four volt AC power is used by the modules 30, 32 and 34 forswitching solenoid actuated valves 112, 114 and 116 ON and OFF. In FIG.4 the valves 112, 114 and 116 are denoted as diamonds with the letter“V” in the middle. The twenty-four volt AC power signal from thetransformer 108 is also used by the master module 40 to control a pumpor master valve (MV) 117. DC power is supplied by the power supply (PS)118 to the face pack 16 via line 119 that extends within the ribboncable 29.

A suitable electrical port (not illustrated) may be connected to theprocessor 102 for downloading a watering program that has been createdon a personal computer and downloaded into a smart card, portable datashuttle or other removable media. See for example U.S. Pat. No.6,088,621 granted Jul. 11, 2000 of Peter J. Woytowitz et al. entitledPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR RAPID RE-PROGRAMMING OF IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS,also assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the processor 102could receive programming and/or commands from a master computer viahard-wired or wireless connection. The programming executed by theprocessor 102 can include a cleaning cycle which momentarily turns oneach valve after completion of a run cycle to flush debris away from thevalve seat. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,678 granted Nov. 3, 1998 of RichardE. Hunter et al. entitled SELF-CLEANING IRRIGATION REGULATOR VALVEAPPARATUS, also assigned to Hunter Industries, Inc., the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The station modules 30 and 32 (FIG. 4) are configured for insertion intocorresponding receptacles in the back panel 14. The station modules 30and 32 are connectable to corresponding solenoid actuated valves 112 and114 through dedicated field valve lines 120 and 122. The valves 112 and114 are connected to a common return line 124. A dedicated field valveline 125 connects the master module 40 to the master valve 117. Thereturn line 124 connects to the master valve 117 and the master module40. Typically these lines comprise insulated twelve gauge wires whosestripped ends are secured to the screw terminals 115 of the modules 30,32 and 40. Typically the valves 112 and 114 are mounted in subterraneanboxes relatively close to the controller 10, i.e. within one hundredfeet of the controller 10. Thus the station modules 30 and 32 are usedfor controlling nearby valves 112 and 114. The valves 112 and 114control the supply of pressurized water through subterranean PVC pipes(not illustrated) equipped with risers and sprinklers. The stationmodules 30 and 32 each include a micro-controller and at least oneswitching device, such as a triac, for selectively supplying the twentyfour volt AC power signal from the transformer 108 that energizes thecorresponding solenoid actuated valve. In the example shown, the stationmodules 30 and 32 each include three switching devices and canindependently control three separate valves or stations. Suitablesynchronous serial data and asynchronous serial data station modulecircuits are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,630 B1,the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The encoder module 34 (FIG. 4) is also configured for insertion into acorresponding one of the receptacles and is connectable to a multi-wirepath 126 for sending encoded signals and the twenty-four volt AC powersignal from the transformer 108 along the multi-wire path 126 forselectively energizing the valves 116. The encoder module 34 may bephysically larger than the station modules 30 and 32 and therefore itmay have to bridge more than one of the receptacles, i.e. connect tomore than one of the male card edge connectors that would normallyconnect to several station modules. Alternatively, the controller 10could be provided with a plurality of smaller receptacles for receivingthe station modules and one or more larger receptacles for receivingencoder modules.

While the system of FIG. 4 is illustrated as a two-wire system, it willbe understood that it could be readily modified to function as athree-wire system. As used herein the term “multi-wire path” encompassesboth two wire and three wire configurations and other configurationscontaining more than three wires extending together. The valves 116 areconnected to corresponding decoder circuits 128 connected in parallelalong the multi-wire path 126, which in this case is a two wire path.The valves 116 are typically “far away”, i.e. they are installedhundreds, or even thousands of feet away from the controller 10. Specialpulsing techniques known by those skilled in the art can be used tooperate the far away solenoid valves 116 with very low power. The valves116 also control the supply of pressurized water through subterraneanPVC pipes (not illustrated) equipped with risers and sprinklers.

FIG. 5 illustrates the circuitry of the encoder module 34. The twentyfour AC power signal from the transformer 108 is supplied via lines 110to the male card edge connector in the receptacle into which the encodermodule 34 is plugged. A power supply 130 supplies a DC signal to amicro-controller 132. The micro-controller receives serialcommunications commands from the processor 102 via bus 107. Push buttons134 and an LCD display 136 are connected to the micro-controller 132 andare used to identify and program the decoder circuits 128. Drivercircuitry 138 receives an AC power signal from the power supply 130 andcommand signals from the micro-controller 132. The driver circuitry 138typically includes an H-bridge with current sensing which maybeduplicated for driving more than one two-wire path 126. The drivercircuity 138 sends encoded signals and the AC power signal along thetwo-wire path. Optical isolation (not illustrated) may be providedbetween the bus 107 and the micro-controller 132. Optionally, theencoder module 34 has a communications interface circuit 140 that isconnected between the two-wire path 126 and the micro-controller 132 andprovides the encoder module 34 with bi-directional communicationscapabilities. Therefore, when each of the far away valves 116 is turnedON an acknowledgment signal can be sent back to the processor 102. Thebi-directional communication capability provided by the communicationsinterface circuit 140 also enables sensor information, such as thatobtained by a moisture sensor, rain sensor, flow rate sensor,temperature sensor, humidity sensor, etc. to be encoded and transmittedback to the processor 102 through the encoder module 104.

FIG. 6 illustrates the circuitry of one of the decoder circuits 128.While in FIG. 4 I have illustrated each decoder circuit 128 driving onlya single far away valve 116, the decoder circuit 128 may be configuredto drive more than one far away valve 116 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thetwo-wire path 126 is connected to a power supply 142 that supplies powerto bi-polar or MOSFET driver circuitry 144 that opens and closes valves116. The driver circuitry 144 is duplicated several times forcontrolling more than one valve 116. Bi-directional communicationsinterface circuitry 146 is connected to the two-wire path 126 and to amicro-controller 148. The power supply 142 supplies the DC power to themicro-controller 148 and to a wireless communications transceiver 150having an antenna 152.

The processor 102 executes the stored watering program and controls thestation modules 30 and 32 and/or the encoder module 34 in accordancewith the stored watering program. The processor 102 periodically querieseach of receptacles to determine how many stations are available tocontrol and which station or zone numbers they are associated with.Resistors (not illustrated) in the back plane of the main circuit board(not illustrated) inside the face pack 16 tell each of themicro-controllers in the modules which of the receptacle each of themodules is plugged into. In this manner, the watering program executedby the processor 102 will correctly control the run and cycle times ineach station or zone. While the controller 10 has been described andillustrated as having the capability for receiving two station modules30 and 32 and one encoder module 34, the controller 10 could have manymore receptacles for supporting and controlling more station modules asindicated by the vertical string of dots drawn between the stationmodules 30 and 32 in FIG. 4. Normally only a single encoder module 34would need to be added, and it could communicate with far away valvesand sensors over several branches of the multi-wire path. However, thecontroller 10 could be configured to receive and communicate with morethan one encoder module 34.

Preferably the processor 102 and the micro-controllers in the stationmodules 30 and 32 and the encoder module 34 use an encryption algorithmthat employs numerical keys buried at certain points in the data streamin order to ensure that only modules produced by the originalmanufacturer of the controller 10 will be compatible and will operatewhen plugged into the controller 10. This prevents customers and usersfrom installing inferior expansion modules manufactured by third partiesthat either do not operate correctly and/or prematurely fail due to theuse of inferior components and/or inferior manufacturing standards.

My hybrid controller 10 allows a contractor to install a basic systemthat can control different nearby zones in familiar fashion. If morenearby zones must be controlled, more dedicated field valve wires can beattached to the unused screw terminals 115 on the existing,already-installed station modules 30 and 32. If more zone still need tobe controlled, additional station modules can be inserted into emptyreceptacles. Where it is not possible or practical to install additionaldedicated field wires, or where far away valves are to be controlled, anencoder module 34 can be plugged into the controller 10 in place of oneof the station modules 30 or 32 and the two wire path 126 can be used tocommunicate with the nearby and/or far away valves. Where the encodermodule 34 is physically larger than the station modules 30 and 32 it maybe necessary to unplug both station modules 30 and 32 and plug theencoder module 34 into the controller 10 so that it bridges or spans thetwo receptacles previously occupied by the two station modules 30 and32. Thus in any event the encoder module 34 is plugged into at least onereceptacle in the back panel 14. My hybrid controller allows theuser-friendly interface of a modular expandable irrigation controller tobe used to program a large number of remote valves and avoids theunfamiliarity issues raised with the more complex programming normallyassociated with prior decoder irrigation systems.

Those skilled in the art of designing irrigation controllers forcommercial and residential landscaping will appreciate that I have alsoinvented a novel method of controlling a plurality of valves in anirrigation system including the steps of: 1) entering or selecting awatering program; 2) selectively energizing a first plurality of nearbyvalves using dedicated field valve lines and a common return line inaccordance with the watering program; and 3) selectively energizing asecond plurality of far away valves connected to a multi-wire pathutilizing encoded signals in accordance with the same watering programand under the control of the same processor. The second and third stepsof my method can be performed in reverse order or simultaneously.

The decoder circuits 128 are preferably contained within ruggedwaterproof enclosures that can be buried in the ground next to theircorresponding far away valves 116. Their identities may be programmedinto the controller 10 in association with a particular zone using theirserial numbers or programmed by connecting a hand held device (notshown) that is directly connected to their wires before they areattached to the multi-wire path 126. Preferably, each decoder circuit128 is programmed in wireless fashion. FIG. 7 is a block diagramillustrating the wireless programming of the decoder circuit 128. Ahand-held decoder programmer 154 has push buttons 156 and an LCD display158 connected to a micro-controller 160 that receives power from abattery 162 through a power supply 164. The micro-controller 160 iscoupled to a wireless transmit/receive (transceiver) circuit 166connected to an antenna 168. The wireless programming of the decodercircuit 128 is preferably very low power and very short range to preventinadvertent reprogramming of adjacent decoder circuits 128. This can beaccomplished by placing the antenna 168 of the hand-held decoderprogrammer 154 close to the antenna 152 of the decoder circuit 128 andby tuning the antennas and selecting the frequency and power to ensurethat adjacent decoder circuits are not inadvertently programmed. Amodule (not illustrated) containing the decoder circuit 128 can also beplaced it into a proximity device such as a cylindrical container (notillustrated) with an inductive loop or coil wound about the same that isconnected to the hand-held decoder programmer 154 and functions in placeof its internal antenna 168. While I have illustrated the decodercircuit 128 and hand-held decoder programmer 154 as having transceivers150 and 166, respectively, so that they can exchange data and commandsbi-directionally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatwireless programming of the decoder circuit 128 can be accomplished bysimply having a transmitter in the hand-held decoder programmer 154 anda receiver in the decoder circuit 128. The wireless link can also beused for diagnostic purposes such as checking the health of thehand-held decoder programmer 154, whether or not a solenoid is attached,whether there is a short in the valve wiring, whether there is an opencircuit in the valve wiring, etc.

Thus I have also invented a method of remotely programming a decodercircuit adapted for use in an irrigation system. This is done by: 1)providing a hand-held programmer with a transmitter connected to a firstantenna; 2) placing the hand-held programmer in close proximity to adecoder circuit configured to be connected to at least one valve andhaving a receiver connected to a second antenna; 3) entering identitycommands via the hand-held programmer and sending them via thetransmitter and the first antenna to the second antenna; and 4)receiving the identity commands via the receiver in the decoder circuitand establishing a unique identity for the decoder circuit so that itwill respond to commands from an irrigation controller connected to thedecoder circuit. The decoder circuit need not be connected to the valveat the time its identity is programmed.

I have further invented a method of remotely exchanging diagnosticinformation with a decoder circuit adapted for use in an irrigationsystem. This is done by: 1) providing a hand-held programmer with afirst transceiver connected to a first antenna; 2) placing the hand-heldprogrammer in close proximity to a decoder circuit configured to beconnected to at least one valve and having a second transceiverconnected to a second antenna; 3) using the hand-held programmer totransmit at least one query to the decoder circuit via the firsttransceiver; 4) receiving the query via the second transceiver in thedecoder circuit and transmitting diagnostic information from the decodercircuit via the second transceiver; and 5) receiving the diagnosticinformation with the first transceiver in the hand-held programmer.

While I have described an embodiment of my hybrid irrigation controller,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention can bemodified in both arrangement and detail. The station modules 30 and 32could also be provided with bi-directional communication capabilities.My invention could be adapted to a wide variety of other irrigationcontroller configurations, such as the ICC controller manufactured andsold by Hunter Industries, Inc., disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 of pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/430,929 filed May 5, 2003 of Matthew G.Beutler et al. entitled POSITIVE STATION MODULE LOCKING MECHANISM FOREXPANDABLE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference. Said application is also assigned toHunter Industries, Inc. Moreover, it is possible to construct a hybridirrigation controller in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention that does not have removable modules. My controller canoperate only the station modules 30 and 32, only the encoder module 34,or both. Therefore the protection afforded my invention should only belimited in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

1. A hybrid irrigation controller, comprising: at least one control forentry or selection of a watering program; a memory for storing thewatering program; a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving atleast one station module or at least one encoder module; the stationmodule being connectable to a corresponding valve through a dedicatedfield valve line and including at least one switching device forselectively providing a first power signal that energizes thecorresponding valve; the encoder module being connectable to amulti-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signalalong the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a pluralityof valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected alongthe multi-wire path; and a processor for executing the stored wateringprogram and controlling the station module or the encoder module inaccordance with the stored watering program.
 2. The controller of claim1 wherein the encoder module is physically larger than the stationmodule and bridges more than one of the receptacles.
 3. The controllerof claim 1 wherein the encoder module includes a micro-controller. 4.The controller of claim 1 wherein the encoder module includes drivercircuitry.
 5. The controller of claim 3 wherein the encoder moduleincludes a plurality of push buttons connected to the micro-controller.6. The controller of claim 3 wherein the encoder module includes adisplay connected to the micro-controller.
 7. The controller of claim 3wherein the encoder module includes a communications interface circuitconnected to the micro-controller.
 8. The controller of claim 1 whereinthe station module is inserted into one of the receptacles and isoperatively connected to the processor.
 9. The controller of claim 1wherein the encoder module is inserted into one of the receptacles andis operatively connected to the processor.
 10. The controller of claim 1wherein the station module and the encoder module are inserted intocorresponding ones of the receptacles and are operatively connected tothe processor.